Wednesday, April 21, 2010

LANSING - The Lansing Community College Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award for 2010 will be awarded to Mary Roszel, co-founder of Biggby Coffee, a Michigan-based franchise company of coffee cafes. The award will be presented at the 2010 LCC Distinguished Alumni Award Ceremony, 6:00 pm-7:00 pm, Friday, May 7, at the Paula D. Cunningham Administration Building Boardroom on Main Campus in downtown Lansing.Roszel is co-owner of Biggby’s Coffee which she and partner Bob Fish established in East Lansing in 1995. They opened a second café in 1997 in downtown Lansing, and, in1999, in response to high demand, they sold their first franchise store. Today there are four partners and more than 100 cafes in the Midwest. Roszel provides corporate leadership, participates in the design and build-out of new stores, and works with franchisees to help them realize their dreams.Roszel grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan and in 1974 moved to East Lansing with her two children. She received a paralegal degree from Lansing Community College in 1976 and worked for the Michigan Supreme Court for 13 years. She returned to college in 1987 after her children had finished school, graduating from Michigan State University in 1988 with a Hospitality degree.Roszel sits on several boards including: Dine America Advisory Board, Michigan Small Business Technical Development Center Board, Entrepreneurship Advisory Council for the MSU School of Business, and Ele’s Place, a local organization that helps grieving children and their families. Roszel also established an LCC Foundation scholarship that annually assists two single parent students to attend LCC. She enjoys travel, art, wine, and walking.The Alumni Association chooses its Award recipient from nominees based on distinction in the nominee’s field and service to the community. For information call the LCC Alumni AssociationLansing Community CollegeP.O. Box 40010 Lansing, MI 48901-7210at 517-483-1988. For an interview with Mary Roszel or to inquire about press attendance from 5:30 pm-6:00 pm on May 7 call Andrew J. Lathrop at 483-1988.# # #About Lansing Community CollegeLansing Community College is Michigan’s third largest community college with more than 32,000 students attending each year. The College has more than 240 degree and certificate programs. LCC offers courses in general education for those interested in transferring to a four-year institution, career and workforce development, developmental education and personal enrichment. To meet the professional development and training needs of regional employees, the college offers customized programs for credit, non-credit and continuing education. The University Center at LCC offers students the opportunity to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees from six partner universities on the downtown LCC campus. For more information, visit www.lcc.edu.

5 comments:

Congratulations to Mary and Bob and the whole Biggby team. Bob, if you are reading, I would love to speak with you a little. I am an MSU Hospitality Business grad and remember you coming into one of my classes around 1997 or so and talking about the potential of someday franchising Beaners. I have owned my own business for 7 years now and am considering franchising as a growth plan and would love to chat with you a little bit about your experiences. Looking forward to hearing from you.

CEO and Co-Founder of BIGGBY COFFEE.
Our first cafe began in March of 1995, and we began franchising in 1999. We now have over 157 cafes located in 9 states. We are a 100% franchised system....meaning local ownership.
I am spending much of the year on the road visiting our cafe owners, employees and customers....these are the chronicles of my visits.